Magistrate amused by man's 'novel excuse' for bail breach

Peter Hardwick
Journalist
Peter started in 1976 as apprentice typesetter/comp and has 32 years with The Chronicle in three stints (in between working/holidays in UK/Europe, Brisbane and Melbourne). Entered editorial from comp room in 1996.

A TOOWOOMBA man had a novel excuse when charged with breaching his bail conditions in failing to report to the Hume St police station as required.

Stephen Dudley Galvin had been granted watch house bail in October with conditions including having to report to police each Wednesday and Friday to sign the bail register, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

However, on seven occasions, including December 26 and 28 and January 2, 4, 9, 11 and 16, the 26-year-old hadn't fronted the police station.

Found by police this week, Galvin explained that there being no lines left on his bail register page, he didn't think he had to report any more as there was no space left to sign.

Galvin's solicitor Brad Skuse said he hadn't heard the excuse before either but explained it had been a comment by the police counter attendant who remarked that there was only one line left on the register page that led his client to think he no longer had to report.

Galvin spent the night in custody before pleading guilty in court to the seven counts of breaching a bail condition.

Mr Carroll fined him $1000 and released him on bail - on condition he report to police as required.